Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Skin infection from Neospora in two adult dogs on immune drugs
By La Perle, K M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc·2001·Department of Veterinary Biosciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Cutaneous neosporosis in two adult dogs on chronic immunosuppressive therapy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old Italian Greyhound and a 7-year-old Labrador Retriever both developed severe skin problems while on long-term immunosuppressive therapy. The Greyhound had been treated with corticosteroids for an autoimmune disorder, while the Labrador was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Skin biopsies revealed a parasite called Neospora caninum, and both dogs were treated with clindamycin. The Greyhound's skin lesions healed completely, but sadly, the Labrador had to be euthanized due to worsening neuromuscular issues, despite improvement in its skin condition.
People also search for: dog skin problems treatment · Neospora caninum in dogs · clindamycin for dog skin infection
Abstract
Antemortem diagnosis of generalized ulcerative and pyogranulomatous dermatitis with numerous intralesional tachyzoites was made from skin biopsy specimens from 2 adult dogs on chronic immunosuppressive therapy. A 9-year-old Italian Greyhound was on long-term corticosteroid therapy for the treatment of a lupus-like systemic autoimmune disorder, and a 7-year-old Labrador Retriever had received several months of chemotherapy for lymphosarcoma. The tachyzoites were identified as Neospora caninum by immunoperoxidase immunohistochemistry. Both dogs were treated with clindamycin. Lesions in the Greyhound resolved; however, the Labrador Retriever was euthanized because of evidence of neuromuscular disease, despite improvement of the skin lesions. These 2 cases indicate that cutaneous neosporosis can occur in adult dogs on chronic immunosuppressive therapy. The disease may result from reactivation of a congenital infection and/or a recently acquired primary infection.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11482605/